Posted on 11/09/2013 7:34:17 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Here’s a candidate who turned identity politics on its head while managing to break every politically correct rule about politics in the process.
Dave Wilson chuckles as he talks about his unorthodox political campaign.
“I’d always said it was a long shot,” Wilson says. “No, I didn’t expect to win.”
Still, he figured he’d have fun running, because he was fed up with what he called “all the shenanigans” at the Houston Community College System. As a conservative white Republican running in a district whose voters are overwhelmingly black Democrats, the odds seemed overwhelmingly against him.
Then he came up with an idea, an advertising strategy that his opponent found “disgusting.” If a white guy didn’t have a chance in a mostly African-American district, Wilson would lead voters to think he’s black.
And it apparently worked. In one of the biggest political upsets in Houston politics this election season, Wilson — an anti-gay activist and former fringe candidate for mayor — emerged as the surprise winner over 24-year incumbent Bruce Austin. His razor thin margin of victory, only 26 votes, was almost certainly influenced by his racially tinged campaign.
“Every time a politician talks, he’s out there deceiving voters,” he says.
Wilson, a gleeful political troublemaker, printed direct mail pieces strongly implying that he’s black. His fliers were decorated with photographs of smiling African-American faces — which he readily admits he just lifted off websites — and captioned with the words “Please vote for our friend and neighbor Dave Wilson.”
One of his mailers said he was “Endorsed by Ron Wilson,” which longtime Houston voters might easily interpret as a statement of support from a former state representative of the same name who’s also African-American. Fine print beneath the headline says “Ron Wilson and Dave Wilson are cousins,” a reference to one of Wilson’s relatives living in Iowa.
“He’s a nice cousin,” Wilson says, suppressing a laugh. “We played baseball in high school together. And he’s endorsed me.”
Austin tried to answer the mailer with his own fliers showing Wilson’s face, calling him a “right-wing hate monger” and saying he “advocated bringing back chain gangs to clean highways.” But the campaign clearly caught him off guard.
“I don’t think it’s good,” he said. “I don’t think it’s good for both democracy and the whole concept of fair play. But that was not his intent, apparently.”
Fair play? From a guy who accused his opponent of wanting to “bring back chain gangs to clean highways.”
Heh.
Although I LMAO, the headline annoys me.
He didn’t “make” anyone think he was black. The people saw what they expected to see and made their assumptions based on that.
Two things to take away from this. The voters are admitting they are racist, and they’re too damn dumb to even realize they are admitting to it.
Second, they are embarrassed because they voted for a white guy because of his views. They thought both candidates were black so they voted for the one whose views they preferred. Now that they know he is white, do they suddenly find his views wrong? Another admission to racism?
People don’t like to be shown to be stupid. Especially the stupid ones.
The part that got me was where his opponent sent out mailers showing voters hat the guy was really white - as if that would be justification to not vote for him.
Don't know. Hope so. The irony is too delicious.
“24-year incumbent”?
yuck
Sadly brilliant.
Low Information at its finest.
I find this deliciously hilarious and think other “smart” Republicans should use this strategy to win elections. Beat the libs at their own game. I am still chuckling.
It’s a good day!
Jeff Johnson - Vote the name you know.
“bringing back chain gangs to clean highways”
And the downside of THAT would be...????
Who cleans them NOW? Some politically connected subcontractors who hire illegal aliens? /s
No, couldn’t have happened. Everyone knows Black people aren’t racist.
I’m so glad that got updated. LOL!
Parts of him appear to be plastic.
Austin tried to answer the mailer with his own fliers showing Wilsons face, calling him a right-wing hate monger and saying he advocated bringing back chain gangs to clean highways.... I dont think its good, he said. I dont think its good for both democracy and the whole concept of fair play. But that was not his intent, apparently.
LOL!!!If some of my Berkeley buddies saw that gif their pointed heads would spin round and round like Linda Blair!
Low information is low information. Cookie crumbled. LOL!
Obama started it.
#13 - Old Mister Limpbizkit!
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